Di’s Stuffed Green Peppers

Ingredients

• 6 green bell peppers, tops and seeds removed (reserve tops)
• Salt to taste
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (16 ounce) can tomatoes, chopped and liquid reserved
• 1/2 cup long-grain white rice
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco) (optional)
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce, divided

Directions

Chop reserved green bell pepper tops and measure out 1/4 cup.

Bring a pot of water to a boil; cook whole green bell peppers until slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and season inside of bell peppers with a little salt.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef, onion, garlic, and reserved 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper in the hot skillet until ground beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Stir canned tomatoes and liquid, rice, 1/2 cup water, Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, hot sauce, and black pepper into ground beef mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover skillet with a lid, and simmer until rice is tender, 15 to 18 minutes.

Stir 3/4 the mozzarella cheese and 3/4 the tomato sauce into ground beef-rice mixture. Stuff bell peppers with ground beef-rice mixture; top each with remaining mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. Arrange stuffed peppers in a baking dish. Cover dish with aluminum foil.

Bake in the preheated oven until cooked through and cheese is melted, 30 to 35 minutes.